Huá Shí (滑石), known in English as Talc mineral (Talcum), is a cold, sweet and bland Chinese herb from the Drain damp category. It enters the Bladder, Lung and Stomach channels. Its main action: promotes urination, drains Damp-Heat — Lower Jiao.
| Pinyin | Huá Shí (Hua Shi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 滑石 |
| English | Talc mineral |
| Botanical name | Talcum |
| Category | Drain damp |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Sweet, Bland |
| Channels | Bladder, Lung, Stomach |
| Dosage | 9–15g (wrap when decocting) |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; Spleen deficiency without Damp-Heat |
Actions
- Promotes urination, drains Damp-Heat — Lower Jiao
- Clears summer Heat
- Absorbs Damp (topical — wet sores, prickly heat)
Indications
- Hot painful urinary dysfunction
- Summer Heat-Damp
- Diarrhoea from Damp-Heat
- Topical for eczema
How to remember Huá Shí
Drain damp herbs are mostly cool or cold and sweet, and most enter the Bladder channel.
- You can work these out
- Cold, Sweet: like most Drain damp herbs
- Bladder channel: from its action “Promotes urination”
- Learn by heart
- Bland: unusual for Drain damp herbs (most are sweet)
- Lung and Stomach channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
Formulas containing Huá Shí
Other Drain damp herbs
- Fú Líng
- Yì Yǐ Rén
- Zé Xiè
- Mù Tōng
- Chē Qián Zǐ
- Qú Mài
- Bì Xiè
- Yīn Chén Hāo
- Jīn Qián Cǎo
- Hǎi Jīn Shā
- Zhū Líng
- Dēng Xīn Cǎo
- Tōng Cǎo
- Biǎn Xù
- Shí Wéi
- Dōng Kuí Zǐ
- Dì Fū Zǐ
- Dōng Guā Zǐ
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Huá Shí?
Huá Shí is cold and sweet and bland.
Which channels does Huá Shí enter?
Huá Shí enters the Bladder, Lung and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Huá Shí?
Promotes urination, drains Damp-Heat — Lower Jiao; Clears summer Heat; Absorbs Damp (topical — wet sores, prickly heat).
What is Huá Shí used for?
Hot painful urinary dysfunction; summer Heat-Damp; diarrhoea from Damp-Heat; topical for eczema.
Which formulas contain Huá Shí?
Bā Zhèng Sǎn and Gān Lù Xiāo Dú Dān.
Practise Huá Shí and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.